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Freddie Mercury and Queen - Play The Game
Identifier
022314
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Wikipedia
"Play the Game" is a song by British rock band Queen, written by Freddie Mercury. It is the first track on the first side of their 1980 album The Game. It also appears on their Greatest Hits album. The song commences with a series of overlapping rushing noises on an Oberheim OB-X synthesiser, heralding the band's acceptance of electronic instruments into their once explicitly "no synths" sonic repertoire. They played it in their live shows from 1980-82. The single was a hit in Queen's home country reaching #14 in the charts. In America, it peaked at #42.
The song features a soft vocal by Mercury, ending with a strong G4 rising in pitch all the way to C5 in chest voice (contrary to the other C5s being hit in falsetto). Mercury also played piano on the track.
The cover of the single, as well as its promotional video directed by Brian Grant, marked the first time Mercury appeared in either format with what later became his trademark moustache. The video is also notable in that Brian May did not use his trademark Red Special guitar, instead using a Fender Stratocaster replica made by Satellite. This was likely due to the risk of damage involved in the shot in which Mercury snatches the guitar from May, then appears to throw it back to him which was played back in reverse so that it would be easier for May to play the solo after "catching" the guitar in the video. A shot of the band in the unedited blue screen set for the video was later used for the cover of the "Another One Bites the Dust" single release.
Personnel
- Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano, synthesiser
- Brian May - electric guitar, backing vocals
- Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
- John Deacon - bass guitar
A description of the experience
Queen - Play The Game (Official Video)
"Play The Game"
Open up your mind and let me step inside
Rest your weary head and let your heart decide
It's so easy
When you know the rules
It's so easy,
All you have to do
Is fall in love
Play the game,
Everybody play the game of love (yeah)
When you're feeling down and your resistance is low
Light another cigarette and let yourself go
This is your life
Don't play hard to get
It's a free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game,
Everybody play the game of love
My game of love has just begun
Love runs from my head down to my toes
My love is pumping through my veins (play the game)
Driving me insane
Come, come, come play the game, play the game, play the game, play the game
Everybody play the game of love
This is your life
Don't play hard to get
It's a free, free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game
Play the game of love
Your life
Don't play hard to get
It's a free, free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game
Play the game of love